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The word 'cannibal' is derived from the Spanish word "Caníbalis". Though there are many thoughts on the specific origin of this word, the most popular seems to be that of a story surrounding explorer Christopher Columbus. Apparently, Columbus visited the areas of Cuba and Haiti where he witnessed a group of tribal warriors that ate human flesh. The act of actually eating human flesh by these tribes was never confirmed however.

The actual origin of the word can be broken down to the word "Carib", which was the name of the actual peoples living in the area, and which is likely the derivitive of the area known today as The Carribean.

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The word 'cannibal' is derived from the Spanish word "Caníbalis". Though there are many thoughts on the specific origin of this word, the most popular seems to be that of a story surrounding explorer Christopher Columbus. Apparently, Columbus visited the areas of Cuba and Haiti where he witnessed a group of tribal warriors that ate human flesh. The act of actually eating human flesh by these tribes was never confirmed however.

The actual origin of the word can be broken down to the word "Carib", which was the name of the actual peoples living in the area, and which is likely the derivitive of the area known today as The Carribean.

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Q: What is the origin of word cannibal?
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Related questions

What is the noun for cannibal?

The word 'cannibal' is a noun, a word for a person or animal that eats the flesh of its own kind; a word for a person or a thing.


What sentence can you make with the word cannibal?

Every squid is a cannibal. Don't get caught by a cannibal. Is there a cannibal virus for computers yet?


Is cannibal a noun?

Yes, the word 'cannibal' is a noun, a singular, common noun; a word for a person or thing that eats its own kind; a word for a person or thing.


Is cannibal an adjective?

No, the word cannibal is a noun, a singular, common, abstract noun; a word for one that eats the flesh of its own kind, a word for a person or thing.


What is the cannibal species?

"Cannibal" isn't a species it is a word to describe a being who eats another being of the same species.


If you don't know what you are eating can you still be considered a cannibal?

Cannibal is a word to describe an individual. Regardless of the individual knowing what the term means, that individual can still be considered a cannibal by others.


What is another word for cannibal?

go on synonym.com to find out


What is the word when you eat your own kind?

cannibal or cannibalism


What is the word for a human that eats other humans?

A cannibal


What word was used for cannibal pre-Columbus time?

Anthropophagi ( singular -phagus) meaning "people eaters" was the learned term for cannibal.


When was the word CANNIBAL added to the English language?

The word cannibal came into the English language in the 16th century from the Spanish Canibales, which was one form of a name of a Caribbean tribe the Spanish encountered who ate human flesh


What is the origin of the word ballot?

the origin is where the word came from but the specific origin of the word ballot is latin root word.